1,058 research outputs found
EBI2 is highly expressed in multiple sclerosis lesions and promotes early CNS migration of encephalitogenic CD4 T cells
Arrival of encephalitogenic T cells at inflammatory foci represents a critical step in development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for multiple sclerosis. EBI2 and its ligand, 7{alpha},25-OHC, direct immune cell localization in secondary lymphoid organs. CH25H and CYP7B1 hydroxylate cholesterol to 7{alpha},25-OHC. During EAE, we found increased expression of CH25H by microglia and CYP7B1 by CNS-infiltrating immune cells elevating the ligand concentration in the CNS. Two critical pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-23 (IL-23) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1{beta}), maintained expression of EBI2 in differentiating Th17 cells. In line with this, EBI2 enhanced early migration of encephalitogenic T cells into the CNS in a transfer EAE model. Nonetheless, EBI2 was dispensable in active EAE. Human Th17 cells do also express EBI2, and EBI2 expressing cells are abundant within multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions. These findings implicate EBI2 as a mediator of CNS autoimmunity and describe mechanistically its contribution to the migration of autoreactive T cells into inflamed organs
First Observation and Measurement of the Decay K+- -> pi+- e+ e- gamma
Using the full data set of the NA48/2 experiment, the decay K+- -> pi+- e+ e-
gamma is observed for the first time, selecting 120 candidates with 7.3 +- 1.7
estimated background events. With K+- -> pi+- pi0D as normalisation channel,
the branching ratio is determined in a model-independent way to be Br(K+- ->
pi+- e+ e- gamma, m_eegamma > 260 MeV/c^2) = (1.19 +- 0.12_stat +- 0.04_syst) x
10^-8. This measured value and the spectrum of the e+ e- gamma invariant mass
allow a comparison with predictions of Chiral Perturbation Theory.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys.Lett.
Measurement of the branching ratio of the decay
From the 2002 data taking with a neutral kaon beam extracted from the
CERN-SPS, the NA48/1 experiment observed 97 candidates with a background contamination of events.
From this sample, the BR() is measured to be
AKT activity orchestrates marginal zone B cell development in mice and humans.
The signals controlling marginal zone (MZ) and follicular (FO) B cell development remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that AKT orchestrates MZ B cell formation in mice and humans. Genetic models that increase AKT signaling in B cells or abolish its impact on FoxO transcription factors highlight the AKT-FoxO axis as an on-off switch for MZ B cell formation in mice. In humans, splenic immunoglobulin (Ig) D <sup>+</sup> CD27 <sup>+</sup> B cells, proposed as an MZ B cell equivalent, display higher AKT signaling than naive IgD <sup>+</sup> CD27 <sup>-</sup> and memory IgD <sup>-</sup> CD27 <sup>+</sup> B cells and develop in an AKT-dependent manner from their precursors in vitro, underlining the conservation of this developmental pathway. Consistently, CD148 is identified as a receptor indicative of the level of AKT signaling in B cells, expressed at a higher level in MZ B cells than FO B cells in mice as well as humans
Prospects for at CERN in NA62
The NA62 experiment will begin taking data in 2015. Its primary purpose is a
10% measurement of the branching ratio of the ultrarare kaon decay , using the decay in flight of kaons in an unseparated
beam with momentum 75 GeV/c.The detector and analysis technique are described
here.Comment: 8 pages for proceedings of 50 Years of CP
Observation of the rare decay K_S -> pi^0mu^+mu^-
A search for the decay K_S -> pi^0mu^+mu^- has been made by the NA48/1
Collaboration at the CERN SPS accelerator. The data were collected during 2002
with a high-intensity K_S beam. Six events were found with a background
expectation of 0.22^+0.18_-0.11 event. Using a vector matrix element and unit
form factor, the measured branching ratio is B(K_S ->
pi^0mu^+mu^-)=[2.9^+1.5_-1.2(stat)+/-0.2(syst)]x10^{-9}.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables. To be published in Physics Letters
ChPT tests at the NA48 and NA62 experiments at CERN
The NA48/2 Collaboration at CERN has accumulated unprecedented statistics of
rare kaon decays in the Ke4 modes: Ke4(+-) ()
and Ke4(00) () with nearly one percent
background contamination. The detailed study of form factors and branching
rates, based on these data, has been completed recently. The results brings new
inputs to low energy strong interactions description and tests of Chiral
Perturbation Theory (ChPT) and lattice QCD calculations. In particular, new
data support the ChPT prediction for a cusp in the invariant mass
spectrum at the two charged pions threshold for Ke4(00) decay. New final
results from an analysis of about 400 rare
decay candidates collected by the NA48/2 and NA62 experiments at CERN during
low intensity runs with minimum bias trigger configurations are presented. The
results include a model-independent decay rate measurement and fits to ChPT
description.Comment: XIIth International Conference on Heavy Quarks and Leptons 2014,
Mainz, German
First observation and branching fraction and decay parameter measurements of the weak radiative decay Xi0 --> Lambda e+e-
The weak radiative decay Xi0 --> Lambda e+e- has been detected for the first
time. We find 412 candidates in the signal region, with an estimated background
of 15 +/- 5 events. We determine the branching fraction B(Xi0 --> Lambda e+e-)
= [7.6 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.4(syst) +/- 0.2(norm)] x 10^{-6}, consistent with an
internal bremsstrahlung process, and the decay asymmetry parameter
alpha_{XiLambdaee} = -0.8 +/- 0.2, consistent with that of Xi0 --> Lambda
gamma. The charge conjugate reaction Xi0_bar --> Lambda_bar e+e- has also been
observed.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables; revised: 19 pages, 4 figures, 4
tables, after reviewers' comments: 1 figure removed, 1 figure corrected,
minor editorial changes; to be published in Phys. Lett.
Recent NA48/2 and NA62 results
The NA48/2 Collaboration at CERN has accumulated and analysed unprecedented
statistics of rare kaon decays in the modes: () and ()
with nearly one percent background contamination. It leads to the improved
measurement of branching fractions and detailed form factor studies. New final
results from the analysis of 381 rare decay
candidates collected by the NA48/2 and NA62 experiments at CERN are presented.
The results include a decay rate measurement and fits to Chiral Perturbation
Theory (ChPT) description.Comment: Prepared for the Proceedings of "Moriond QCD and High Energy
Interactions. March 22-29 2014." conferenc
A precision measurement of direct CP violation in the decay of neutral kaons into two pions
The direct CP violation parameter Re(epsilon'/epsilon) has been measured from
the decay rates of neutral kaons into two pions using the NA48 detector at the
CERN SPS. The 2001 running period was devoted to collecting additional data
under varied conditions compared to earlier years (1997-99). The new data yield
the result: Re(epsilon'/epsilon) = (13.7 +/- 3.1) times 10^{-4}. Combining this
result with that published from the 1997, 98 and 99 data, an overall value of
Re(epsilon'/epsilon) = (14.7 +/- 2.2) times 10^{-4} is obtained from the NA48
experiment.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Physics Letters
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